With Spectacular and Easy to Prepare Recipes from all Major Areas, y’all. Because of course.
These are the kinds of things I collect from op shops, garage sales and random book fairs. Recipe books of old, American recipes, crazy photos, no photos, serious over-use of aspic, and quaint advertising (The Ladies Handbook has gotta be one of my all-time favourites).
Books where you can’t have nasturtium salad without golf paraphernalia.
Books where your pecan salad is accessorised with guns.
Carrots with sewing machines (“hold up with those curtains ma, here’s your lunch!”).
Gun #2
WATERMELON AND ROCKETS, YO!
Stereotypes!
Food on the floor!
Moar guns!
Realistic birds in realistic settings!
Seriously though, it’s a pretty cute book. I gave away a few that I thought I wouldn’t find useful (I still use the recipes, you see), and I just couldn’t decide with this one.
I doubt I will make a single recipe from it.
AND NEW YORK IN THE ’80S.
So what do you think – take it to the new house, or donate it to another (hopefully!) loving family?
Elizabeth says
That book is pure gold. The designer must have been seriously unhinged.
Stacey says
it had to have been the styling du jour, it’s crazy!
Bridie says
Oh my goodness – the before and after versions of the chicken in the sand dunes. Too much!!
Not sure I can help you decide on the take or toss, though. Maybe only take it if you plan to display it in all it’s glory? To have open on the counter when new friends come to visit? It’d be a bit of a waste hidden away on a shelf.
Stacey says
That’s kind of how I feel – nobody knew the glory but me! Perhaps it’s time to send it on…
Bmpermie says
Cooking for a frontier country. In every wagon there was gelatine. How could you bear to part with it.
Stacey says
Hahah gelatine WAS popular! I have plenty of gelatine recipes elsewhere, all more disgusting and foul than this one 🙂
Mrs Woog says
Now that you have written this post, you will have a memory from it. Let it go Veggie… let it go xx
Stacey says
Gladly.
Rachel says
TOSS TOSS TOSS!!! Oh America….
Stacey says
it’s gone!
Josephine says
Whoa. That is something else! I’m going to second Mrs Woog’s sentiments. It’s bestowed its magic here, pay it forward…
Stacey says
We’ll forever be grateful for its insight into the minds of 1980, but yes, time to let it go 🙂
Sammie says
Of course you must keep it, it’s a classic. I love it! It also takes food styling to a whole new level. You know that they say… only in America! PS. If you do toss it, feel free to toss it over this way!
Stacey says
If it didn’t weigh a TON, I would post it!
Lisa Mckenzie says
Take it Stacey it’s one of those weird books that could be good someday Xx
Stacey says
haha yes, someday…
Sally says
That is a classic – some interesting food styling techniques there!! I’m another crazy cookbook collector and I love the wacky ones, even though I never make anything out of them, they’re like a little piece of history. I’d keep it, but I’m guessing I’m in the minority 🙂
Stacey says
I’ve had it for so long now… I kind of feel like if it was wacky AND useful I would keep it. But I can’t see myself making any of the dishes. Time to pass it on to someone who will 🙂
Lila says
Oh No! I’ve been doing food styling all wrong! How will I get some guns? Do you think a nerd gun will give me the same effect?
Seriously BURN it!
Stacey says
I wouldn’t know the first thing about procuring a gun. Maybe I could 3D print one?
Bec @ The Plumbette says
I think it’s time to let that book go. Interesting styling on the food front. 🙂
Stacey says
yes… “interesting”, haha
Smaggle says
That’s hilarious. Ben and I have been wanting to do an old fashioned uber styled photo shoot like that for ages.
Stacey says
DO IT
Reannon @shewhorambles says
You crazy mofo! Throw that shit! Nobody needs guns with their salad or chickens in the dunes.
Stacey says
the dunes! it still cracks me up.
Hugzilla says
This is a question? Let’s have the ceremonial burning and be done with it. I can’t believe you’d inflict this on anyone else.
Stacey says
Well, it IS cold here today
K says
Keep it!
2013 was all about detox diets.
2014 has been the year of the Paleo diet.
Rumour has it that 2015 will be the year of the Bear meat diet (and nasturtium leaves will be the next superfood).
Stacey says
Well there is that shift back to natural food that people forage for… bear and nasturtiums would be number-one choices!
Lizzie says
I have this book too!! I got it at the Holbrook op shop when i visiting my grandma one day. Ive never made any of the recipes but maybe one if i feel like some bear i might use it… 🙂
Stacey says
Oh I used to live in Holbrook. We ate rabbit there…
Alicia says
I have a ridiculous number of cookbooks. It doesn’t stop me from looking for them at garage sales, it’s like striking gold 🙂 Once there was some fools gold, and there was pleasure in the sound of it hitting the sides of the recycle bin lol 🙂